Consumer Affairs & Relations

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Kmart will offer lease-to-own financing at stores nationwide this holiday season. The latest addition to Kmart's portfolio of financial services, the lease-to-own program began to rollout at Kmart stores in test markets as of Oct. 15 and will be available in all stores by Nov. 22. Giving customers a no credit-required way to take home the items they need right away, lease-to-own financing will be available year-round for merchandise priced at $150 and over.

With plans to more than double its 200,000 global workforce in the foreseeable future, Starbucks is making a push to hire veterans and active duty spouses, much like other retailers like Walmart and Home Depot.

In addition, a store in Lakewood, Wash., and a store in San Antonio, Texas, will begin sharing a portion of each transaction with nonprofit programs Operation GoodJobs and Vested in Vets as part of a commitment to establish five such stores in joint base communities around the United States.

Paramus, N.J. – A lone gunman who entered the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J., with an assault rifle the evening of Nov. 4 and went on an hours-long shooting rampage has reportedly been found dead of what appears to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, the body of 20-year-old Richard Shoop of Teaneck, N.J., was found by authorities at 3:20 a.m. on Nov. 5 in an area of the mall usually not accessible to customers.

Energizer Holdings named Loop Capital Markets general counsel and HanesBrands board member as the newest member of its board.

Fremont, Calif. -- Men’s Wearhouse again rejected a $2.3 billion takeover bid by Jos. A. Bank, refusing to allow it confidential access to its books. Last week, Jos. A. Bank sent a letter to Men’s Wearhouse, hinting that it might raise its proposed takeover offer above $48 a share if it was allowed to conduct due diligence.

In a statement on Monday, Men’s Wearhouse once again reiterated its belief that its own turnaround plan would be better for shareholders.

Tractor Supply Company has elected Cynthia T. Jamison to its board of directors. Jamison will succeed James F. Wright as chairman of the board upon the conclusion of Wright's term at the end of the year.

Wright will resign his position as a board member effective December 31, 2013, consistent with his plan to serve as executive chairman of the board with a term of one year, as previously announced in September 2012.

Wolverine Worldwide has appointed Ira P. Hernowitz as president of the Stride Rite Children's Group.

Hernowitz most recently served as EVP of "R" Us Brands for Toys “R” Us, Inc. He has served in a variety of leadership roles throughout his career, and deep experience in children's products.

Shopko continues to make good on its growth initiative with the opening of five new Shopko Hometown stores in November.  

The retailer opened the doors Monday to three Shopko Hometown stores in Ellsworth, Wis.; St. Peter, Minn.; and Winneconne, Wis. Two more openings are planned on Nov. 11 for Afton, Wyo., and Tomahawk, Wis. Shopko operates 330 stores in the Midwest, North Central, Mountain West and Pacific Northwest regions, including — with the five new locations — 180 Shopko Hometown stores.

Von Maur has opened its first location in Alabama, just outside of Birmingham, at Riverchase Galleria in Hoover. The 185,000-sq.-ft. store is one of the largest locations in the country.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix reported net earnings for the third quarter fell 2.3% to $359.9 million, compared to $368.4 million in the year ago period.

Sales for the third quarter were $7 billion, up 5.6% from last year’s $6.7 billion. Same-store sales rose 4.1%.